Can closure



June 13, w67 G. H. MCCUTCHEON CAN CLOSURE Filed July 2l, 1955 All"/Nl/E/L/ TOE G50/Q65 /I/c Cz/TCHEON HARP/5, A//Ec/f, RUSSELL KLJ/8MUnited States Patent O 3,325,044 CAN CLSURE George H. McCutcheon, LosAngeles, Calif., assigner to Mutual Plastic Mold Corporation, La Mirada,Calif., a corporation of California Filed July 21, 1965, Ser. No.473,576 12 Claims. (Cl. 220-60) This invention relates to a can closureand more particularly to a deformable can closure having novel handlemeans for lifting and carrying the can.

Can or container closures of deformable material, e.g. plastic, arefrequently supplied with sealed metal food containers such as coffeecans for use after the seal on the can is broken and the metal cover hasbeen removed. The metal covers cannot be reused because they do not forma satisfactory seal with the can once the factoryformed seal has beenbroken. Beaded plastic closures have been found very satisfactory asthey readily form a tight seal with the container and are easily removedtherefrom.

An object of this invention is to provide an improved deformable canclosure of simple construction which tightly encloses a container andprovide-s novel means for carrying or supporting the container, thecarrying means being particularly useful with cans of relatively largediameter.

Another object of this invention is to provide a closure for a containerincluding handle means which closure provides increased resistance todisplacement of the closure relative to the container therefor whenupward lifting forces are applied to the handle means.

A further object of this invention is to provide a closure for acontainer having a top bead, the closure including a deformable lidhaving a top member, a peripheral flange depending from the top memberto a position beneath the top bead of the container, and an internalbead extending generally inwardly from the peripheral Flange beneath thetop bead to resist displacement f the lid relative to the container; andhandle means secured to the top member inwardly of the peripheral flangeso that application of upward lifting forces to the handle means tendsto increase the angle between the top member and the flange, thustending to force portions of the internal bead inwardly and increase theresistance of the lid to displacement relative to the container.

An object of this invention is to provide a container closure securableto the end of the container which facilitates and does not interferewith end-to-end stacking of the containers and which stabilizes theresulting stack. A further object is to provide a stacking rib extendingupwardly from the top member of the lid to facilitate stacking of thecontainers and to `assist in stabilizing the resulting stack, togetherwith a handle structure which when collapsed will be disposed below thetop of the stacking rib.

Another object of this invention is to provide a container closuresecurable to the end of a container and including handle means whichdoes not interfere with end-to-end stacking of the containers. A furtherobject is to provide handle means of such thickness and size as to liebelow the plane of the tip of the stacking rib to thereby precludeinterference with the stacking operation.

A particular object of this invention is to provide a closure includinga lid having a central depression and a shelf portion, together with atwo-piece collapsible handle means which overlies and is at leastpartially receivable in the central depression so as to precludeinterference with container stacking and to require a minimum amount ofspace. According to this object of the invention, the handle means mayinclude a handle member and a tab member both overlying the lid. Thehandle member has a 3,325,944 Patented June 13, 1967 rice mountingportion fixed to the shelf portion at one of two diametrically oppositeanchor positions and an end portion extending toward the other of theanchor positions and overlying the central depression in the lid. Thetab member may have an outer mounting portion fixed to the shelf at theother of the anchor positions and an inner tongue portion extending fromthe outer mounting portion toward the center of the lid in alignmentwith the handle member. The handle member and tab member are -slidablyinterconnected for limited movement, as by a slot in one of the membersand a follower member on the other of the members which is receivable bythe slot. Another object of this invention is to offset downwardly oneor both of the inner tongue portion of the tab member and the endportion of the handle member so that at least one of these members lieswithin the central depression.

The invention, both as to its organization and method of operationtogether with further objects and advantages thereof may best beunderstood by reference to the following description taken in connectionwith the accompanying drawing in which:

FIG. l is a fragmentary perspective view of a can closure and a can withthe handle means of the closure being in the collapsed position;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view of one end of thehandle means taken along line 2-2 in FIG. l;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along `line 3 3 in FIG. 2and showing the interconnection between the handle member and tabmember;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary View partially in section of the other end ofthe handle means and illustrates how 4portions of the internal bead onthe lid at either end of the handle means are forced inwardly toincrease the resistance to relative displacement between the lid `andthe container when upward lifting forces are applied to the handlemeans;

FIG. 5 is an inverted perspective view ofthe tab member; and

FIG. 6 is an inverted perspective view of the handle member.

FIG. l illustrates a cylindrical can or container 11 the upper end ofwhich is closed by a can closure 13. The can closure 13 includes a lid15 to which a handle member 17 and a tab member 19 are secured.Preferably, the lid 15, the handle member 17, and the tab member 19 areeach separately molded from a pliable and deformable plastic materialpreferably an amorphous polymer such as polyethylene, polypropylene andthe like.

The can closure 13 is particularly adapted for use with the container11, details of which are illustrated in FIG. 2. The can 11 has a sidesurface 21 and a top bead 23 protruding outwardly from the side surface21 at the upper edge of the can. The upper end of the can l11 is usuallyinitially sealed by a cover 25 which may be formed integrally with theupper end of the can or otherwise sealed thereto as by the beadconstruction shown. The `container 11 may be formed of metal and thecover 25 may be removed from the container by a conventional can opener.Once the cover 25 has been removed, it cannot be suitably secured to thecan 11, and accordingly, the lid 15 of the invention is used to seal theupper end of the can to prevent the goods therein from spoiling, losingtheir avor, spilling, etc. After the contents of the Can have been used,the can and its lid 15 can be used by the housewife for storage..

The lid 15 is a molded thin-walled integral member shaped to conform tothe can, being exemplified as generally circular in plan. The lid 15includes an outer portion shown as including an annular at shelf portion27.

It includes also a downwardly offset flat circular central portion 29forming a central depression, and a frustoconical section 31interconnecting the shelf portion and the central portion. The shelfportion 27, the central portion 29, and the frustoconical section 31close the upper end of the container 11 and form a top member of the lid15.

The lid 15 also has an annular peripheral flange 33 integral with theshelf portion 27 and extending below the top bead 23 of the can 15. Aninternal bead 35 sized to slip over the top bead 23 of the can 11 andseat therebelow extends inwardly from the flange 33. As shown in FIG. 2,the flange 33 may engage the top bead 23 and form a seal therebetween,particularly at the side of the bead, when the internal bead 35 isseated below the top bead to resist displacement of the lid 1S relativeto the can 11.

An annular stacking rib 37 which may be of triangular or other crosssection extends slightly upwardly from the shelf portion 27 closelyadjacent the periphery of the lid 15. The stacking rib 37 has a tip 39at the upper end thereof which lies in a generally horizontal planewhich overlies the top member. For a purpose to be described, the shelfportion 27 is shown as provided with a plurality of apertures 41 at oneanchor position and a plurality of openings 43 diametrically opposed tothe apertures 41 at a second anchor position. These apertures arepreferably formed during the molding of the lid but can be punched ifdesired.

The handle member 17 and the tab member 19 form handle means for the canclosure 13. Referring to FIGS. 2, 3 and 5, the tab member 19 ispreferably an integral member and includes an outer mounting portion 45,a downwardly offset inner tongue portion 47, and a shoulder 49interconnecting the mounting portion and the inner tongue portion. Themounting portion 45 and the inner portion 47 are both generally thinflat strips and the former has a plurality of securing pins 51 dependingtherefrom and receivable by the apertures 41 in the shelf portion 27. Byheating the ends of the securing pins 51 to about their meltingtemperature, as by touching a hot iron thereto, a secu-ring knob or head53 is formed on the end of the pins on the under side of the shelfportion 27 to securely x the tab member 19 to the lid 15. Although thismethod of securing the tab member 19 to the lid 15 is preferred, the lidand tab member could be otherwise fixed together, as by being adhered ormolded integrally.

With the tab member 19 secured to the shelf portion 27, the inner tongueportion extends from the outer mounting portion 45 toward the center ofthe lid 15 and the opposed anchor position. The inner tongue portion 47,which is offset downwardly by the shoulder 49, lies within thedepression formed by the central portion 29 of the lid 15. The tabmember 19 is of such thickness and size that no portion thereof extendsabove the horizontal plane containing the tip 39 of the stacking rib 37when the tab member 19 is in the collapsed position of FIG. 2.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the tab member 19 is secured to the shelfportion 27 inwardly of the peripheral flange 33 and a portion of themounting portion extends outwardly toward the flange 33 from theapertures 41. A longitudinally extending slot 55 is formed in the innertongue portion 47 and is utilized to slidably interconnect the handlemember 17 and the tab member 19 as more fully described hereinafter.

The handle member 17 has a flat mounting portion S7, a downwardly offsetend portion 59, a shoulder 61 interconnecting the mounting portion andthe end portion, a follower member 63 depending from the end of the endportion 59, and two arcuate longitudinal edge flanges 65 depending fromthe longitudinal edges of the end portion throughout most of its lengthbut preferably terminating short of the shoulder 61. The mountingportion 57 carries three securing pins 67 which are receivable by theopenings 43 and heatable to form securing knobs 68 (FIG. 4) which aresimilar to the knobs 53 for securing the handle member to the shelfportion 27. The end portion 59 extends toward the apertures 41 inalignment with the tab member 19 and is offset downwardly into thecentral depression of the lid with the lower edges of the flanges 65lying in contact with or close to the top surface of the lid depression.The handle member 17 is of such thickness and size that no portionthereof extends above the horizontal plane containing the tip 39 of thestacking rib 37 when the handle member is in the collapsed position ofFIG. 2.

Any suitable means are provided for slidably connecting the end portion59 and the tongue portion 47 for limited movement therebetween. Suchmeans may include the slot 55 and the follower member `63 which is slidably received thereby. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the handle member 17overlies the tab member 19 and the follower member 63 extends downwardlythroughthe slot 55 to slide therein. The follower member 63 includeslateral flanges 69 and a rearwardly extending flange 71 for securing thetab member 19 to the handle member 17.

The edges of the lateral flanges are spaced a distance greater than thewidth of the slot 55 but can be forced thereinto due to the resiliencyor deformability of the materials of which the handle elements are made.Also one or both of the slot-forming side elements of the tab member 19can be initially spread or displaced from their normal coplanar relationto facilitate receipt of the follower member 63. The flanges 67 lie inthe space between the handle member and the lid surface and preventdisengagement of the elements as the handle means is being extended.

In moving the handle means from the collapsed position to a carryingposition, upward forces are applied to the handle member 17, therebymoving the handle member upwardly (FIG. 4). The follower member causesthe tab member to move upwardly with the handle member and the slot 55allows relative longitudinal movement between the tab and handle membersas the handle means is moved to the extended or carrying position. Inthe carrying position, there is sufficient space between the lid 15 andthe handle member 17 to allow the fingers of the carrier to fittherebetween. In the carrying position, the rearwardly directed flange71 lies beneath and engages a portion of the inner tongue portion 47adjacent one end of the slot 55 to limit the relative movement and lockthe handle and tab members against separation.

The can 11 containing any of a number of products such as coffee may beshipped to the consumer with the can closure 13 as illustrated in FIGS.l and 2. The handle means on the lid 15 facilitates carrying of thefilled container. The lid 15 may be removed by forcing the internal bead35 over the top bead 23 of the can 11 to allow a can opener (not shown)to be used to remove the metal cover 25. The metal cover 25 may then bediscarded and the only closure used thereafter on the container 11 isythe lid 15.

An important feature of this invention is that application of upwardlifting forces to the handle member 17 tends to force portions of theinternal lbead 35 inwardly and thus increase the resistance of the lid15 to displacement relative to the container 1\1.` Thus, when the filledcontainer 11 is being carried or otherwise supported `by the handlemember 17, the lid 15 becomes more securely attached to the can 11. Tobring about this result, it is important that the lid |15 be constructedof deformable material such as plastic and that the handle member 17 andthe tab member 19 be secured to the shelf portion 27 inwardly of theperipheral flange 33. Thus, as illustrated in FIG. 4, lifting or archingof the handle and tab members upwardly deforms the lid 15 slightly andtends to force portions of the internal bead 35 inwardly into tighterengagement with the can 11 to more securely attach the lid 15 thereto.It is also desirable that the outer portion of the shelf portion 27 besubstantially flat and meet the fiange 33 at substantially a rightangle. Thus, upward arching of the handle member 17 and the tab member19 tends to increase the angle between the shelf portion and the flange33 adjacent the securing knobs 53 and 68 which in turn forces the fiange33 inwardly to attach the lid 15 more securely to the container 11.

Another feature of this invention is the stacking rib 37 which isadapted to engage or fit within a bottom bead 73 (FIG. 2) of a container75 positioned thereabove. Thus, the stacking rib 37 facilitates stackingand aligning of the containers in end-to-end relationship and stabilizesthe stack so formed.

It is also important that no portion of the handle member 17 or the tabmember 19 extends above the horizontal plane containing the tip 39 ofthe stacking rib 37 to interfere with the stacking operation. This isadvantageously accomplished by offsetting downwardly the central portion29 of the lid 15 to form a central depression into which one or both ofthe inner tongue portion 47 and the end portion 59 may lie. Thecollapsible feature of the handle means allows the handle members 17 andthe tab member 19 to move downwardly into the depression formed Vby thedownwardly offset central portion 29. The engagement of the rbead 65 andthe follower member 63 with the central portion 29 stabilizes theelements of the closure 13 in the collapsed position.

Many changes, modifications, and substitutions may be made by one havingordinary skill in the art without necessarily departing from the spiritand scope of this invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A closure for a container having an upper end portion, said closureincluding:

a deformable lid having a top member and a peripheral ange dependingfrom said top member to secure said lid to the upper end portion of thecontainer;

a handle member overlying said lid, said handle having a mountingportion fixed to said top member at one of two generally opposed anchorpositions each located inwardly of said ange, said handle having an endportion extending toward the other of said anchor positions;

a tab member having an outer mounting portion fixed to said top memberat said other of said anchor positions and an inner tongue portionextending from said mounting portion toward said handle; and

interlocking means for slidably connecting said end and togue portionsof said handle and tab members respectively for limited movementtherebetween.

2. A closure for a container having a top bead protruding outwardly froma side surface of the container, said closure including:

a deformable lid having a top member, a peripheral flange depending fromsaid top member to a position -beneath said top bead, and an internalbead extending generally inwardly from said peripheral flange beneathsaid top bead to resist displacement of said lid relative to thecontainer, said top member meeting said flange at a ,given angle; and

handle means secured to said top member inwardly of said peripheralfiange, application of upward lifting forces to said handle )meanstending to increase said given angle lbetween said top member and saidflange thus tending to force portions of said internal bead inwardly andincrease the lresistance of said lid to displacement relative to thecontainer.

3. A can closure for a can having a top bead protruding outwardly from aside surface of the can, said closure including:

a deformable lid having a top member and `a peripheral flange integraltherewith depending below said top bead;

a handle member overlying said lid, said handle mem ber having amounting portion fixed to said top member at one of two generallydiametrically opposed anchor positions each located inwardly of saidiiange, said handle member having an end portion extending toward theother of said anchor positions;

a tab member having an outer mounting portion fixed to said top memberat said other of said anchor positions and an inner tongue portionextending from said outer mounting portion toward the central portion ofsaid lid generally in alignment with said handle member; and

means for slidably connecting said end and tongue portions of saidhandle member and said tab member respectively for limited movementtherebetween.

4. A can closure as defined in claim 3 in which said flange has aninternal bead sized to slip over said top y bead of the can and seattherebelow to resist displacement of said lid relative to the can, saidlid having ya fiat outer portion meeting said flange at substantially aright angle, said mounting portions of said tab member and said handiemember being fiat portions fixed to said flat outer portion of siad lidat said diametrically opposed anchor positions, whereby upward archingof said handle and said tab member tends to increase the angle betweensaid outer portion and said fiange adjacent said anchor positions thustending to force adjacent portions of said internal bead inwardly andincrease the resistance of said lid to displacement relative to the can.

5. A closure as defined in claim 3 including a stacking rib extendingupwardly from said top member, said stacking rib having a tip lying in aplane which overlies said top member, said handle member and said tabmember being of a thickness to liebelow said plane.

6. A closure as defined in claim 3 wherein said lid has a shelf portionand a downwardly offset central portion forming a central depression inwhich said slidable connecting means is positionable, said mountingportions of said handle member and said tab member being fixed to saidshelf portion.

7. A closure as defined in claim 3 wherein said lid has a shelf portionand a downwardly offset central portion forming a central depression inwhich said slidable connecting means is positionable, said mountingportions of said handle member and said tab member being fixed to saidshelf portion and at least one of said handle and tab members beingoffset downwardly to lie in said central depression.

8. A closure as dened in claim 3 wherein said connecting means includesa slot in one of said handle and tab members and a follower member onthe -other of said handle and tab members, said follower member beingslidable within said slot.

9. A can closure for a can having a top bead protruding outwardly from aside surface of the can, said closure including:

a lid formed of deformable plastic material, said lid having a shelfportion, a peripheral fiange integral with said shelf portion andextending below said top bead, a downwardly offset central portionforming a central depression, and a stacking rib extending upwardly fromsaid shelf portion, said stacking rib having a tip lying in a planewhich overlies said shelf portion;

a handle member overlying said lid, said handle member having a mountingportion fixed to said shelf portion at one of two diametrically opposeanchor positions, each of said anchor positions being located inwardlyof said iiange and on said shelf portion, said handle member having anend portion extending toward the other of said anchor positions andover- 7 lying said downwardly offset central portion of said lid;

a tab member having an outer mounting portion affixed to said shelf atsaid other of said anchor positions and an inner tongue portionextending from said outer mounting portion toward the center of said lidin alignment with said handle member, said inner tongue portionoverlying said downwardly offset central portion of said lid; `and meansfor slidably connecting said end and tongue portions of said handle andtab members, respectively, for movement between an extended carryingposition and a collapsed position in which said handle member and saidtab member are adjacent said lid, said handle and tab members being ofsuch thickness and size that no portion thereof extends above said planewhen said handle and tab members are in said collapsed position.

10. A closure as defined in claim 9 wherein said end portion -of saidhandle member and said inner tongue portion of said tab member areoffset downwardly and are of such thickness and size as to lie withinsaid central depression with no portion thereof extending above saidplane when said handle and tab members are in said collapsed position.

11. A can closure for a can having a top bead protruding outwardly froma side surface of the can, said closure including:

a lid of deformable plastic material, said lid having a shelf portion,an annular peripheral flange integral with said shelf portion andextending below said top bead, an internal bead extending inwardly fromsaid flange and sized to slip over the top bead of the can and seattherebelow to resist displacement of said lid relative to the can, Vadownwardly offset central portion forming a central depression, and astacking rib extending upwardly from said shelf portion and having a tiplying in a plane which overlies said shelf portion;

a handle member of deformable plastic material overlying said lid, saidhandle member having a mounting portion and securing pins on saidmounting portion, said securing pins being received by and fixed to saidshelf portion at one of two diametrically opposite anchor positions,each of said anchor positions being located inwardly of said flange andon said shelf portion, said handle member having an end portionextending toward the other of said anchor positions, a follower memberdepending from said end portion, and two longitudinal edge flangesdepending from said end portion, said end portion overlying saiddownwardly offset central portion of said lid; and

a tab member of deformable plastic material, said tab member having anouter mounting portion affixed to said shelf portion at said other ofsaid anchor positions, an inner tongue portion extending from said outermounting portion toward the center of said lid in alignment with saidhandle member, and a longitudinal slot in said inner tongue portion forslidably receiving said follower member, said inner tongue portionoverlying said downwardly offset central portion of said lid beneathsaid end portion of said handle member, said follower member beingmovable in said slot to move said handle and tab members between anextended carrying position and a collapsed position in which said handleand tab members are closely adjacent said lid, said end portion of saidhandle member and said inner tongue portion of said tab member beingoffset downwardly into said central depression of said lid and being ofsuch thickness and size that no portion thereof extends above said planewhen said tab member is in said collapsed position.

12. A can closure as defined in claim 11 in which said follower memberincludes a rearwardly extending flange in the plane of said longitudinaledge flanges adapted to lock below the tongue portion of said tab memberwhen said follower member is at the innermost end of said longitudinalslot.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,269,588 8/1966 Ruekberg 220-97FOREIGN PATENTS 211,063 2/ 1924 Great Britain.

THERON E. CONDON, Primary Examiner.

G. T. HALL, Assistant Examiner.

1. A CLOSURE FOR A CONTAINER HAVING AN UPPER END PORTION, SAID CLOSUREINCLUDING: A DEFORMABLE LID HAVING A TOP MEMBER AND A PERIPHERAL FLANGEDEPENDING FROM SAID TOP MEMBER TO SECURE SAID LID TO THE UPPER ENDPORTION OF THE CONTAINER; A HANDLE MEMBER OVERLYING SAID LID, SAIDHANDLE HAVING A MOUNTING PORTION FIXED TO SAID TOP MEMBER AT ONE OF TWOGENERALLY OPPOSED ANCHOR POSITION EACH LOCATED INWARDLY TO SAID FLANGE,SAID HANDLE HAVING AN END PORTION EXTENDING TOWARD THE OTHER OF SAIDANCHOR POSITIONS; A TAB MEMBER HAVING AN OUTER MOUNTING PORTION FIXED TOSAID TOP MEMBER AT SAID OTHER OF SAID ANCHOR POSITIONS AND AN INNERTONGUE PORTION EXTENDING FROM SAID MOUNTING PORTION TOWARD SAID HANDLE;AND INTERLOCKING MEANS FOR SLIDABLY CONNECTING SAID END AND TOGUEPORTIONS OF SAID HANDLE AND TAB MEMBERS RESPECTIVELY FOR LIMITEDMOVEMENT THEREBETWEEN.